tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595590912416369261.post6728551712292749990..comments2017-05-02T02:57:31.291-07:00Comments on Disruptive Thinkers: The Navy and a Sanctioned Class DivideBen Kohlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03169347794851576548noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595590912416369261.post-87113806530471669602017-05-02T02:57:31.291-07:002017-05-02T02:57:31.291-07:00One of the MANY reasons I avoided large commands. ...One of the MANY reasons I avoided large commands. Cruiser/Destroyer&#39;s for LIFE! However, once I went Espeditionary, the line between commissioned and enlisted fairly well disappears. Especially if you are sent out for a mission. First names, shared liberty, dinner out together... Now this may have been due the fact the Cox&#39;n was in charge of the boat, not the Officer, or maybe it was a cleansing mindset. <br /><br />I like what he is saying about the caste system, but if he doesn&#39;t like it, don&#39;t go to a bird farm... Turn in your wings and find a small unit...Don Handhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02726584376743454702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595590912416369261.post-28423752032805787102012-06-19T15:30:26.114-07:002012-06-19T15:30:26.114-07:00The smoke deck acts as an effective 3rd place to t...The smoke deck acts as an effective 3rd place to those who use it. It is often disparaged by the non-smokers, but I have found some great conversations there (including a tattoed DCC who did impromptu Damage Control training). Cigar call on the bridge wing was effective as well. <br />This was on a DDG. I think it&#39;s harder to do this type of stuff on a bigger ship, but small boys can break the paradigms more easily and experiment with blurring lines.ProtegeAAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18126216818584003506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595590912416369261.post-40062808856713996202012-06-06T20:24:39.583-07:002012-06-06T20:24:39.583-07:00Within the structure imposed by the chain-of-comma...Within the structure imposed by the chain-of-command, perhaps it is important to take a break from that structure and communicate as peers. But I think the point is not that it is important that we get a break from the structure, but that the structure exists in the first place. Gore is a company built on 150-person plants, not that much bigger than a submarine. Yet, their plants function astoundingly well with all people as &quot;associates&quot;, whether they are machinists, engineers, accountants or executives. The purpose of the meal is to provide an opportunity for bottom-up ideas, which is sorely needed. I had personally always thought that if you&#39;re going to your CO to find out what needs to be done instead of your chief, you&#39;re looking in the wrong direction.<br /><br />One could argue that a warship isn&#39;t a company, and we need that structure to fight wars. However, based on the conversation at the NWDC Innovation Symposium today, I would postulate that Naval personnel at all levels are more comfortable in their role as technician in the business operations of maintenance than as tactician.Chris Konahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13660207484756701173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595590912416369261.post-86220471584945514682012-06-03T19:51:11.973-07:002012-06-03T19:51:11.973-07:00I remember one time when, as a JO, I attempted to ...I remember one time when, as a JO, I attempted to sit down with one of my division (briefly) in the enlisted mess, because he&#39;d just come off a particularly disastrous watch and I wanted to let him know that there were no negative repercussions hanging fire for him.<br /><br />The on-the-spot butt-chewing I got from the COB was memorable, the later one by my div chief slightly less vivid but his comprehensive explanation of how I screwed things up left me an indelible impression on me.<br /><br />Both of them were adamant about the value of a segregated chow. To them, chow was one of the few places where people got a pretty strictly-enforced break from the structure imposed by the chain-of-command - and that this, in and of itself, was valuable.<br /><br />I suspect that there is some truth to that, so any solution to the very real problem of an aggressively enforced class distinction (i.e., &quot;opulent differences&quot;) should account for the need for there to be a safe space where people can decompress without leadership intrusion or observation.<br /><br />Chow&#39;s a good place for that to happen. Maybe it&#39;s not the best place to choose to create your 3rd space. What are some other options?Hexsawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01101151536826356302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595590912416369261.post-33630779513611826302012-06-01T21:22:55.233-07:002012-06-01T21:22:55.233-07:00Slight differences in the funding/budget structure...Slight differences in the funding/budget structures between the Wardroom, CPO mess and enlisted messes would make this a bit more difficult than simply removing the verbal prohibitions against it.<br /><br />Still, that shouldn&#39;t stop the attempt. I retired in 2005 as a PO1 with tours on MIDWAY, INDEPENDENCE and KITTY HAWK, and the mess decks were often the only place that provided an &quot;escape&quot;, however temporary, from the daily grind. When I did a small TDY on a tin can, I was amazed that the separation between the enlisted mess and CPO mess was nothing more than a waist high flower pot.S.B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12686721369718585634noreply@blogger.com